Shane Long

A rather surprising Tottenham transfer target to say the least, it was alleged in late December that the Lilywhites were considering snapping up West Bromwich Albion striker Shane Long.

The Baggies front-man is as an industrious worker in the final third, and one can understand how his explosive pace could be an attractive prospect for the North Londoners, considering getting behind opposition defences has been a major stumbling block in Spurs’ efforts going forward this season.

Furthermore, with West Brom attempting to flog him to Hull back in the summer and his contract set to expire at the end of the current campaign, it’s unlikely the Midlands outfit will put up too much of a fight if a decent offer was made for the Ireland international this January.

But this is a striker who dons a Premier League record of just 19 goals in 81 top flight appearances, and at 26 years of age it’s unlikely Long will be able to significantly improve upon that miserly total at White Hart Lane.

It says a lot that Tottenham’s biggest rival in signing the Hawthorns man is currently the Tigers, a mid-table club that’s far more befitting of Long’s current standard.

Acquiring the Irishman could keep Spurs ticking over until the end of the season, especially if Tim Sherwood insists upon playing 4-4-2 for the remainder of the term, but after next summer he’ll surely be nothing more than an experienced, high-earning reserve that eats up too a disproportionate amount of the wage bill.